In footage from the concert, Bryan, who is best known for hits “Something in the Orange” and “I Remember Everything,” can be seen wearing a black shirt with the message, “Free Palestine,” on it. The country star’s bandmates also appeared to wear shirts that showed support for the Middle Eastern country.

Bryan’s concert attire was certainly notable, given that Macklemore previously blamed Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft for his removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after making pro-Palestine remarks.

“Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from the Loop Tour. Before I get into it, I want to say something that should be obvious. In this moment I think it matters. I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Pink is not a victim. We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world. Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families,” Macklemore shared last month. “The victims are the Palestinian people-the men, women, and children who have been killed, starved, displaced, and forced to live through unimaginable violence. More than 20,000 children have been killed in Gaza alone. People are being killed today, and people will be killed tomorrow. I want to make sure that as I tell this story, we don’t lose sight of that.”

As Macklemore went on, he claimed that “the middle of all the media attention surrounding Pink and what I said at MetLife, Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him. We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium.”

Per Macklemore, Kraft had “rallied some of the other stadium owners, who collectively gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”

Sheeran later maintained that it was the promoters’ decision to drop Macklemore from the tour, not his own; he was remaining publicly neutral on the military conflict as he has continued on with the tour.

“I would never let down the fans who had made plans,” he said, “nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”

As for Kraft, he stood by his decision to bar Macklemore from the arena, noting in his own statement, “Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the Sept. 25 and 26 concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.”

“I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate,” Kraft added at the time. “I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.”

In the days following, both Macklemore and Kraft donated millions to nonprofits aiding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as blowback over the drama grew. Macklemore also announced plans for his own “Free Palestine” tour, which has since sold out.

A representative for Kraft did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment over Bryan’s shirt.

The post Zach Bryan Supports Macklemore With ‘Free Palestine’ Shirt at Gillette Stadium appeared first on TheWrap.

Where “It Ends With Us” was about heavy subject matter with moments of levity interspersed, “Verity” is much more of a creepy thriller. It follows Lowen (Dakota Johnson), a young woman hired to ghostwrite for renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) by her husband (Josh Hartnett) to finish her popular book series. Verity was in a serious car accident, leaving her paralyzed and unable to care for herself, let alone write.

When Lowen moves into Verity’s home alongside the author and her husband, she discovers some shocking secrets and quickly becomes paranoid, thinking Verity is actually following her, and faking her injuries. It all gets very creepy, very quickly.

We won’t spoil anything for you here, we’re just going to help you fill out your “Verity” playlist, by rounding up all the songs you hear onscreen. It’s not quite as extensive as some films, but there are something some key songs in there.

Here are all the songs you’ll hear in “Verity”:

• “Girl Feels Good” Performed by FKA Twigs
• “Close But Not Quite” Performed by Curtis Mayfield
• “Family And Friends” Performed by Oklou
• “Body And Soul” Performed by Benny Goodman
• “Sugar! Honey! Love!” Performd by Kali Uchis
• “Hymne A L’Amour” Performed by Lorenzo Bernardi
• “Få En Gave” Performed by Alle
• “Back To Me” Performed by The Marias

“Verity” is in theaters everywhere.

The post All the Songs in ‘Verity’ appeared first on TheWrap.

Sheeran and U2 collaborated on the song “Yours Eternally,” which features Ukrainian singer Taras Topolia and is written from the perspective of a Ukrainian soldier during the ongoing war with Russia. According to Bono, when the musicians were bringing the song together, Sheeran asked: “You’re not going to get me into politics, are you?”

“And I said, ‘This soldier who inspired us, he loved you Ed and you’ve worked on this song,'” Bono continued.

The singer recalled Sheeran responding, “Yeah, but I just want to keep my thing free.” Bono then conceded that “you can’t be pushing people around,” and cited musician Brian Eno saying “that pop stars are like little fish in a large sea of huge forces and religion and politics.”

Macklemore revealed on social media last month that he was dropped from Sheeran’s tour as a result of saying “Free Palestine” on stage at their concert. The rapper noted that the situation involved some tough conversations with Sheeran, but ultimately, Macklemore blamed stadium owners like Robert Kraft for the decision.

“Last Monday, in the middle of all the media attention surrounding Pink and what I said at MetLife, Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him,” Macklemore shared. “We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium.”

“Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners, and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.” Macklemore conceded that Sheeran was in a “f–ked position,” and “couldn’t get past his public-facing ‘I don’t take sides.’”

Since then, Sheeran’s other opening acts have all exited the Loop Tour in solidarity with Macklemore and the Palestinians, while Macklemore’s subsequent pro-Palestine shows have all sold out.

The post Bono Says Ed Sheeran Worried About Getting ‘Into Politics’ on Their Song About the War in Ukraine appeared first on TheWrap.

Rundgren, who is best known for founding the rock groups Nazz and Utopia, publicly condemned the pop star in a recent interview with Vulture, naming Swift as the artist he would “make fun of” in a hypothetical 2026 album.

“Taylor Swift, of course. There’s an argument to be made that she ruined music,” Rundgren said. “It’s an understandable phenomenon. It’s just that, to me, Taylor Swift is the apotheosis of mediocrity.”

He continued: “It’s the era of the female artists. The biggest artists in the world are female artists at this point, and that’s because of video games. Back in the ’90s, boys stopped spending money on music and started spending it on video games, and that left the music market with, ‘Well, where do we go here?’ And they said, ‘Well, there’s all these young girls and they’ve got their allowances, too. Why don’t we start making music for young girls instead of Pearl Jam or something like that?'”

As Rundgren went on, he cited Lady Gaga and P!nk as other “artists of that ilk.” However, he clarified that he respected Lady Gaga as an artist, noting that “she’s a real musician.”

“She’s a classically trained piano player. Taylor Swift doesn’t do anything particularly great except grow hair,” he said. “She’s not a great singer. She’s not a great songwriter. She’s not a great dancer.”

Though, he did call Swift “a role model for what was a very young generation of women,” adding, “and now for those women’s daughters as well, because it’s mothers and daughters going to Taylor Swift shows.”

A representative for Swift did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.

Rundgren’s commentary echoes similar remarks he made in 2022 on Rick Rubin’s “Broken Record” podcast. At the time, Rundgren shared that he hits “the mute button anytime I see Taylor Swift.”

Despite Rundgren’s criticism, Swift is one of the most widely studied musical artists of the 21st century. In June, the pop star was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, becoming the youngest woman ever to received the honor.

On Friday, she released “The Life of the Showgirl: The Encore,” which featured four new songs from Swift. Among the new tracks was “Patient Zero,” which saw its music video starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell released during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. Reviews for the new music have been mixed.

The post Todd Rundgren Doubles Down on Taylor Swift Criticism: ‘She Ruined Music’ appeared first on TheWrap.

The 2026 show, which returned to Los Angeles for the first time since 2015, made sure those moments were there from the start, with Madonna’s opening performance with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx embracing a signature sensual VMAs vibe.

But in the Peacock Theater, audiences were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at how the star-studded performances come together — and apart.

Keep on reading for seven moments cameras missed at the 2026 VMAs, several of which were dominated by show-stealer Taylor Swift.

A prompt start

The CBS broadcast of the VMAs was delayed just over 20 minutes by the NFL’s matchup of the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys. But inside the Peacock Theater, the lights went down right at 4:30 p.m. PT for Madonna’s opening performance.

Two of the night’s biggest performances weren’t there

The audience missed live performances from two of the night’s biggest headliners: Bruno Mars and Kacey Musgraves. Instead, the pair were featured in pre-recorded clips shown to both the Peacock Theater audience and viewers at home.

The VMAs introduced Mars’ performance from The Romantic Tour — which will bring him to Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium for a string of shows starting Sept. 30 — but there wasn’t as obvious a reason for Musgraves’ performance to be pre-taped. Her tribute to the late Dolly Parton was recorded from the VMAs stage, but Musgraves was nowhere to be seen on the night.

During Musgraves’ pre-tape of Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” some audience members might’ve thought the saloon set in the background would be used for an extended tribute to the country star. It turns out that it was used for Shaboozey’s performance of “High Noon” and “Cowgirl,” during which he was joined by rapper Gunna.

Shaboozey brought flames to the show — twice

Speaking of Shaboozey and Gunna, their set brought fire to the Peacock Theater as production tested out the pyrotechnics ahead of time. The performance lit the salon backdrop on fire, as promised by their “High Noon” line, “Meet me at the bar, guaranteed we tear it down.”

“Off Campus” stars stole the show

Fresh off wrapping up production on “Off Campus” Season 2, stars Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli enjoyed a night out at the VMAs, where ultimate Swiftie Bright was seated next to Taylor Swift herself. Bright and Cameli were stationed on a side stage as they geared up to introduce a performance from best new artist nominee Sienna Spiro — who would win later in the evening. The audience could also see the duo applauding as Madonna accepted yet another Moonman.

Once the spotlight hit the “Off Campus” stars, the fan enthusiasm was next-level, even prompting Bright to re-start her line after getting interrupted by the thunderous applause.

Taylor Swift catches eyes as she greets Madonna

If the “Off Campus” stars stole the show, we don’t even have the words for how mesmerized the crowd was by Taylor Swift. Gasps and squeals indicated to the rest of the theater that she was in the room. Her blonde bangs were easily tracked as attendees parted to make way for Swift to have a moment with Madonna. Perhaps another collaboration is on the way?

Taylor Swift and Dakota Johnson clutch each other during “Patient Zero” debut

After accepting her MTV VMA artist director honors from her “Patient Zero” music video star Dakota Johnson, the two held onto each other as they watched the debut of their collaboration. With arms around each other, Swift lipsynced the words to the new song. After the music video was over, the duo went back onstage, arm-in-arm, as Swift lifted her award in the air.

Paris Hilton in promo mode

Hilton was a presenter at the VMAs, but took advantage of the chance to film some promotional videos for what we can only guess is her new fragrance. Her team recorded her heading towards the pit of the VMAs, spritzing herself and throwing the fragrance into the crowd before strutting out of the area.

The post From Taylor Swift and Dakota Johnson Lipsyncing to ‘Off Campus’ Love: 7 Things Cameras Didn’t Catch at the VMAs appeared first on TheWrap.

The “Confessions II” singer walked away from the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards as the big winner on Sunday night, taking home seven awards — including Artist of the Year, Best Album and Best Collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter. However, Madonna also won Best Dance as the category returned to the awards show for the first time in seven years.

“I came to New York to be a dancer and dance is where everything happened for me in my life. I came to life on the dance floor, I found my community on the dance floor, I fell in love with people on the dance floor … and I lost many people I loved on the dance floor,” she told the VMAs crowd at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. “Dance brings everybody together. We’re all equal on the dance floor.”

Best Dance was presented by BACARDÍ, who teamed up with pro dancers Dexter Carr, Gabi Barra and Dario Boatner to choreograph fresh moves for some classic, winning tracks — with a new twist, of course.

“Madonna’s generational impact on dance music and pop culture speaks to exactly why this category deserves to be celebrated: dance is an ever-evolving form of connection that continues to bring people together through shared rhythm and movement,” Lisa Pfenning, Vice President of BACARDÍ in North America, told TheWrap. “This is the fourth year we’ve partnered with the VMAs, and each year we look for new ways to build upon the collaboration, so it feels fresh and meaningful while staying authentic to both brands.”

“When we learned Best Dance hadn’t been awarded in seven years, we immediately saw an opportunity to bring it back in a way that made sense for BACARDÍ, especially at a moment when dance music is seeing a strong cultural resurgence,” she added. “We wanted to celebrate dance music beyond the award itself, which is what inspired our work with DJ Caleb Calloway to reimagine three iconic Best Dance-winning tracks from years past and introduce them to a new generation in a fresh way. Presenting the return of Best Dance recognizes the genre’s lasting impact while giving a new generation of fans an opportunity to discover, celebrate and participate in dance music.”

Indeed, the trio of dancers could not be prouder to once again celebrate their art after all performing on the VMAs stage in the past — naming Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Missy Elliott, Michael Jackson and Madonna as some of their favorite live moments from MTV history.

“VMAs is such an iconic thing as a dancer because we watch every single one growing up wanting to be there one day. So to be celebrated as a dancer and to be a guest is such an amazing feeling,” Carr shared. “The VMAs is dance. You watch the performances to see what crazy things people are going to do; it’s how you feel the music. To bring back the category in such a big way is an honor.”

“For us, dance is an emotional release; it’s therapy. I feel like dance is coming back around as an expression of movement and music. The time is right, there’s something in the air that is bringing the dance community higher,” Barra agreed. “It’s an honor to be involved in these events as a dancer. When we see these performances and really look at them, you have to admire the artists behind the artist, because we are artists … at the end of the day, we as dancers really do help elevate a performance.”

“It means the world. Dance as the art form that it is can just be on a level on its own,” Boatner echoed. “And also, video is timeless, so you gotta get it right.”

Other notable guests at Sunday’s ceremony included Charli xcx, Troye Sivan, Debi Mazar, Julia Garner, Seth Rogen, Harry Jowsey, Aniya Harvey, Nezza, Andrew Licout, Scarlett Magaña-Singh, Thaís Rodriguez and Emely Moreno, just to name a few. The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are now streaming on Paramount+.

The post Pro Dancers Celebrate the Return of Best Dance Category at 2026 MTV Video Music Awards appeared first on TheWrap.

Living pop icons like Taylor Swift and Madonna were honored repeatedly throughout the night, while rising stars like Raye and Sienna Spiro were both able to take full advantage of the moments given to them. Amidst it all, the VMAs also found the time to pay tribute to late, beloved music icons like George Michael, Dolly Parton and Kurt Cobain. While it may have lacked an overwhelming number of truly buzzy performances, the result was a show that, at its best, felt reflective, predictive and joyful all at the same time.

Here were the best moments from the 2026 VMAs.

Madonna Calls In Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX to Help Her Open the Show

The Queen of Pop made her return to the VMAs this year, opening the awards show for the first time in 23 years. To say she did so in style would be an understatement. The music icon brought the past, present and future of pop music together, kicking things off with Sabrina Carpenter for a live rendition of their 2026 duet “Bring Your Love.” Madonna followed that up with a live performance of her and Charli XCX’s dance track “Danceteria Afterhours.”

XCX joined her onstage for the song, as did a number of other guests, including Debi Mazar, Seth Rogen and Julia Garner (the latter of whom was personally chosen by Madonna to play her in a biopic that may not ever get made now). It was a fun, energetic opening for the show, one that further cemented both XCX and Carpenter’s considerable stage presence and nodded to Madonna’s ongoing influence on the music industry and its contemporary stars.

Raye Crushes Her VMAs Debut

It was a big night for rising British singer-songwriter Raye, who made her VMAs debut with a show-stopping joint performance of “I Will Overcome.” and “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” Raye showed every side of her star persona throughout the performance, meeting the moment with a level of fearlessness, intensity and playfulness befitting of a star of her talent and charisma.

“WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” seemed to get everyone in the Peacock Theater out of their seats (because of course it did), and anyone watching at home could tell that Raye had crushed it by the time the applause came. (Something tells us she knew, too.)

Kacey Musgraves Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Dolly Parton

Like the Emmys before it, this year’s VMAs took time out of its broadcast to pay tribute to the late, great Dolly Parton. “Middle of Nowhere” singer Kacey Musgraves took to the stage dressed and adorned in a way that would have made Parton proud before giving a moving, pitch-perfect rendition of the latter’s iconic ballad, “I Will Always Love You.”

Musgraves may not have yet reached the same legendary status of Parton or Emmys performer Reba McEntire, but she did the “Jolene” singer proud. On a Sunday night when it rarely seemed interested in slowing down, the VMAs took its time with its Parton tribute. It was worth every minute.

Taylor Swift Lifts Up the Second Hour

There were questions heading into Sunday night about whether or not Taylor Swift would even be in attendance for this year’s VMAs, but her presence was thoroughly felt throughout the show’s second hour. Not only did she and Dakota Johnson team up to unveil the music video for Swift’s latest single, “Patient Zero,” but Swift was also awarded MTV’s first-ever VMA Artist Director Honors trophy. At a time when music videos seem to hold less of a cultural space than ever, the “Life of a Showgirl” singer wisely used her acceptance speech to highlight the beauty, craft and importance of the form.

Later, Swift returned to the VMAs stage to accept the Video of the Year award for “The Fate of Ophelia.” And just in case Swift’s doubters had any thought that she might not be able to send the night off on a high note, she proved them wrong by dedicating her win to Parton. “Everything that happened in her life or her career, she channeled back into love and gratitude and appreciation for her fans. I am lucky I got to be one of them, and I will always be one of them,” Swift said of the music legend, whom she deemed “the ultimate showgirl.”

Sienna Spiro Announces Herself

One of the ideal outcomes for an awards show like the VMAs is that an up-and-coming star announces herself along the way as a force to be reckoned with. That happened this year with Sienna Spiro. Standing alone on a stage with nothing but her voice and presence to carry her, Spiro gave a spell-binding performance early in the night of her 2026 track “Great Expectation.”

What felt like the start of a coronation was completed later when Spiro took home the award for Best New Artist. “I didn’t think this would happen, so I just have to say thank you so much,” Spiro said as she held the award, which may very well not end up being the last Moon Person trophy she wins throughout her career.

Madonna Gets Her Flowers

It was fitting in a night that felt like a celebration of pop’s history and future that Taylor Swift and Madonna ultimately took home the biggest wins at this year’s VMAs. The Queen of Pop was, indeed, heavily awarded throughout the night, taking home the 2026 trophies for Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration and Best Dance Song. While accepting the Artist of the Year award, she offered some hard-won advice and wisdom for the other musicians in attendance.

“I spent the last year-and-a-half finding myself, believing in myself and really making the music that I wanted to make,” she said. “To me, that really is the definition of being an artist. And my hope for all of you here tonight is that you spend the next year, or the next 10 years or the rest of your life, doing the same. Finding yourself and believing in yourself.”

The post The 6 Best Moments From the 2026 VMAs appeared first on TheWrap.

The new award is designed to honor the “groundbreaking musical artists” whose contributions and efforts behind the camera have “expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling.” Swift, who was chosen as the award’s inaugural recipient, is a seven-time nominee and four-time VMAs winner for Best Director.

Dakota Johnson, Swift’s close friend, presented the honor.

“Taylor has spent the majority of her life on set, telling tales and building worlds. She isn’t just one of the most decorated artists in the history of the VMAs. She is the single most recognized video director in this show,” Johnson said. “She is a visionary with a relentless drive for perfection in everything she does, and still holds the artistry and the cardinal virtue to never lose sight of the ineffable magic spark at the center of it all.”

In a clip showcasing the artist’s work over the years Swift broke down her filmmaking process admitting she “just loves making stuff.”

“First of all, I want to say thank you to MTV for giving this platform to music videos so long ago,” Swift said in her acceptance speech. “I got to start making music videos and being a part of music videos 20 years ago, and since then I’ve gotten to be a part of making 60 music videos from 18 of those I wrote and directed, and I really love writing and directing music videos.”

She continued: “I got to tell you though, the main reason why I love writing and directing music videos so much is because you, the fans, make it so much fun. It’s so rewarding because you actually care about what we’re making. So, you know, I want to say thank you to everyone who ever worked on a music video that I got to be a part of. I learned something from every single person that ever worked alongside me on these projects. Mainly, I want to say thank you to the fans.”

Over the years, the “Life of a Showgirl” singer-songwriter has taken more control of her visual output. She has directed many of her own music videos, including those for songs like “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Opalite,” “The Man,” “cardigan,” “willow,” “Anti-Hero,” “Bejeweled,” “Lavender Haze,” “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault),” “Karma (feat. Ice Spice)” and “Fortnight (feat. Post Malone).” In 2021, she also helmed the short film for the 10-minute version of her “Red” track, “All Too Well,” which starred Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien.

Along with taking home the inaugural award, Swift also premiered the music video for her new single “Patient Zero” starring Johnson and Colin Farrell.

The singer released the single Friday accompanied by her “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore” expansion album. The new Disc 2 featured four songs: “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon.”

In a Friday interview with Capital FM, Swift explained that the song was inspired by experiences she and her friends have had with women dating their exes reaching out to them for advice.

“The story behind me writing the song ‘Patient Zero’ is that I was hanging out with a bunch of friends, and one of my friends told us that she had been reached out to by the new girlfriend of an ex of hers, asking for guidance on if she had had the same experiences with this guy,” she said. “Everyone in our group just immediately started saying like, ‘Oh, I’ve been through that too,’ and telling the stories of when this kind of reach out had happened for them.”

The post Taylor Swift Makes History, Wins First-Ever Artist Director Honor at VMAs: ‘I Just Love Making Stuff’ appeared first on TheWrap.

The singer released the single Friday as part of her “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore” expansion album. The new, second slate of “Life of a Showgirl” tracks featured four songs: “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon.”

Dakota Johnson stars in the “Patient Zero” video as the wife of an abusive husband (played by Colin Farrell). Over the course of the video, she is haunted by images of Swift, her husband’s former partner. Sick for reasons she does not understand and accused of drinking too much, Johnson’s character finds herself caught up in swirl of confusion created by her toxic relationship.

It is only revealed in the music video’s closing moments that Farrell’s character has been poisoning Johnson all along, slowly gaslighting and killing her the same way he did with Swift’s departed, former heiress. The video’s story ties into the origins of “Patient Zero,” which Swift shared this week was inspired by a friend’s recounting of how an ex-boyfriend’s current girlfriend once reached out to her for advice on her relationship.

“If you wanna party with somebody / who might know about the devil on his shoulder under his halo,” the lyrics to the moody track read. “When the toxins take their hold / you’d rather die than let it go / But if you’re sick of him, I got you / I was patient zero.”

In a Friday interview with Capital FM, Swift noted that her friend’s story was one she discovered that she and multiple other women they knew could relate to.

“The story behind me writing the song ‘Patient Zero’ is that I was hanging out with a bunch of friends, and one of my friends told us that she had been reached out to by the new girlfriend of an ex of hers, asking for guidance on if she had had the same experiences with this guy,” Swift said. “Everyone in our group just immediately started saying like, ‘Oh, I’ve been through that too,’ and telling the stories of when this kind of reach out had happened for them.”

Swift commemorated the music video’s release in an Instagram post Sunday, in which she thanked Johnson, Farrell and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki.

“The ‘Patient Zero’ video is finally out in the world!” Swift wrote. “Getting to work with [Lubezki] was something out of a dream sequence, and I learned so much from getting to watch his genius in action. I want to thank @dakotajohnson and Colin for trusting me with their time, taste, and talent (Giggling with your friend because you’re twinning for an entire shoot was a new and truly delightful experience). And Colin’s turn as a villain is even more impressive when you get to be around him. He’s an absolute light and as kind as they come.”

She also shouted out Cara Delevingne, who makes a cameo appearance in the music video, writing, “Thank you for agreeing to play the lusty other woman. That’s what friends are for?”

“With the ‘Patient Zero’ video, I got to explore the cinematic and literary genres I love so much,” Swift continued. “I wanted to incorporate elements of gothic ghost stories, true crime, psychological thrillers all in a setting I hadn’t really shot in much. The house was a metaphor for the coldness of a relationship that’s faded and atrophied.”

“Thank you to the @vmas for giving us a World Premiere at the place where celebrating music videos became a thing,” Swift concluded. “And so much love for you guys, always.”

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A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

Along with premiering her latest video, this year’s MTV awards show proved to be a huge night for Swift, who accepted the first-ever VMA Artist Director Honors earlier in the evening and then capped things off by winning Video of the Year.

The Artist Director Honors is designed to commemorate the “groundbreaking musical artists” whose contributions and efforts behind the camera have “expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling.” Swift, who was chosen as the award’s inaugural recipient, is a seven-time nominee and four-time VMAs winner for Best Director.

Over the years, the “Life of a Showgirl” singer-songwriter has taken more control of her visual output. She has directed many of her own music videos, including those for songs like “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Opalite,” “The Man,” “cardigan,” “willow,” “Anti-Hero,” “Bejeweled,” “Lavender Haze,” “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault),” “Karma (feat. Ice Spice)” and “Fortnight (feat. Post Malone).” In 2021, she also helmed the short film for the 10-minute version of her “Red” track, “All Too Well,” which starred Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien.

The post Taylor Swift and Dakota Johnson Share Colin Farrell in ‘Patient Zero’ Music Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Here is when, where and how you can watch the 2026 VMAs.

Where are the VMAs airing this year?

The 2026 Video Music Awards will air this year simultaneously on CBS and MTV.

Can I stream the VMAs?

Yes! U.S.-based Paramount+ Premium subscribers will be able to stream this year’s VMAs live on the platform. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will have to wait until Monday, Sept. 28 to watch the show on-demand.

Paramount+ Premium plans are available for $13.99/month or $139.99/year.

What time do the VMAs start?

This year’s VMAs are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Who is hosting this year’s VMAs?

Snoop Dogg is set to host this year’s VMAs. He is making his VMAs hosting debut, stepping into the role after rapper and actor LL Cool J hosted the 2025 edition of the annual award show. This year’s VMAs will also mark the first time the ceremony has been held in Los Angeles since 2017. It will be broadcast live this year from the Peacock Theater in L.A.

Who will be performing at the VMAs?

Madonna will open this year’s award show with her first VMAs performance in 23 years. The last time she performed at the VMAs was in 2003 when Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera famously joined her opening performance.

In addition to Madonna, this year’s VMAs will feature performances from Lisa, Raye, Shaboozey, Gunna, Sienna Spiro and Yung Lean. Kacey Musgraves will also perform as part of the show’s Dolly Parton tribute, while Raye will team up with Sombr and Teddy Swims for a tribute to George Michael.

Who else will be at the VMAs this year?

Along with the night’s musical performers, Alex Warren, Belmont Cameli, Charli XCX, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Ella Bright, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Teyana Taylor, Tyla and Troye Sivan have all been tapped to be presenters at this year’s VMAs.

When does Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” music video premiere?

Taylor Swift is set to be honored at this year’s VMAs with the show’s first-ever MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, which is being given to the “Life of a Showgirl” singer-songwriter in commemoration of her work behind the camera on many of her own music videos. (Up to this point, Swift is a seven-time nominee and four-time VMAs winner for Best Director.)

During this Sunday’s VMAs, Swift is also expected to unveil the music video for “Patient Zero,” one of the four new “Encore” bonus tracks she released this week for her 2025 pop album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” The music video will premiere sometime during this year’s VMAs broadcast. Swift notably directed and appears in the “Patient Zero” music video, which also stars actors Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell and was shot by “Birdman” cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki.

Swift scored nine nominations at this year’s VMAs, making her 2026’s second-most-recognized VMAs artist behind only Madonna, who leads all artists this year with 11 noms.

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